US Patent 8677214 Encoding data utilizing a zero information gain function

A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module encoding data using a dispersed storage error coding function to produce a set of encoded data slices. The method continues with the DS processing module encoding a first encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices using a zero information gain (ZIG) function based on a second encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices to produce a ZIG encoded data slice. The method continues with the DS processing module outputting the ZIG encoded data slice and a subset of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices, wherein the subset of encoded data slices includes less than a decode threshold number of encoded data slices and does not include the first or the second encoded data slice.